OnceuponatimeinZandam，whichisbytheZuiderZee，therelivedawickedmannamedNicholasSnyders。Hewasmeanandhardandcruel，andlovedbutonethingintheworld，andthatwasgold。Andeventhatnotforitsownsake。Helovedthepowergoldgavehim——thepowertotyrannizeandtooppress，thepowertocausesufferingathiswill。Theysaidhehadnosoul，buttheretheywerewrong。Allmenown——or，tospeakmorecorrectly，areownedby——asoul;andthesoulofNicholasSnyderswasanevilsoul。Helivedintheoldwindmillwhichstillisstandingonthequay，withonlylittleChristinatowaituponhimandkeephouseforhim。Christinawasanorphanwhoseparentshaddiedindebt。Nicholas，toChristina’severlastinggratitude，hadclearedtheirmemory——itcostbutafewhundredflorins——inconsiderationthatChristinashouldworkforhimwithoutwages。Christinaformedhisentirehousehold，andonlyonewillingvisitoreverdarkenedhisdoor，thewidowToelast。DameToelastwasrichandalmostasgreatamiserasNicholashimself。\"Whyshouldnotwetwomarry？\"NicholashadoncecroakedtothewidowToelast。
\"TogetherweshouldbemastersofallZandam。\"DameToelasthadansweredwithacacklinglaugh;butNicholaswasneverinhaste。
OneafternoonNicholasSnyderssataloneathisdeskinthecentreofthegreatsemi—circularroomthattookuphalfthegroundfloorofthewindmill，andthatservedhimforanoffice，andtherecameaknockingattheouterdoor。
\"Comein！\"criedNicholasSnyders。HespokeinatonequitekindforNicholasSnyders。HefeltsosureitwasJanknockingatthedoor——JanVanderVoort，theyoungsailor，nowmasterofhisownship，cometodemandofhimthehandoflittleChristina。Inanticipation，NicholasSnyderstastedthejoyofdashingJan’shopestotheground;
ofhearinghimplead，thenrave;ofwatchingthegrowingpallorthatwouldoverspreadJan’shandsomefaceasNicholaswould，pointbypoint，explaintohimtheconsequencesofdefiance——how，firstly，Jan’soldmothershouldbeturnedoutofherhome，hisoldfatherputintoprisonfordebt;how，secondly，Janhimselfshouldbepursuedwithoutremorse，hisshipbeboughtoverhisheadbeforehecouldcompletethepurchase。TheinterviewwouldaffordtoNicholasSnyderssportafterhisownsoul。SinceJan’sreturnthedaybefore，hehadbeenlookingforwardtoit。Therefore，feelingsureitwasJan，hecried\"Comein！\"quitecheerily。
ButitwasnotJan。ItwassomebodyNicholasSnydershadneverseteyesonbefore。Andneither，afterthatonevisit，didNicholasSnyderseverseteyesuponhimagain。Thelightwasfading，andNicholasSnyderswasnotthemantolightcandlesbeforetheywereneeded，sothathewasneverabletodescribewithanyprecisionthestranger’sappearance。Nicholasthoughtheseemedanoldman，butalertinallhismovements;whilehiseyes——theonethingabouthimNicholassawwithanyclearness——werecuriouslybrightandpiercing。
\"Whoareyou？\"askedNicholasSnyders，takingnopainstodisguisehisdisappointment。
\"Iamapedlar，\"answeredthestranger。Hisvoicewasclearandnotunmusical，withjustthesuspicionofroguishnessbehind。
\"Notwantinganything，\"answeredNicholasSnydersdrily。\"Shutthedoorandbecarefulofthestep。\"
Butinsteadthestrangertookachairanddrewitnearer，and，himselfinshadow，lookedstraightintoNicholasSnyders’faceandlaughed。
\"Areyouquitesure，NicholasSnyders？Areyouquitesurethereisnothingyourequire？\"
\"Nothing，\"growledNicholasSnyders——\"exceptthesightofyourback。\"
Thestrangerbentforward，andwithhislong，leanhandtouchedNicholasSnydersplayfullyupontheknee。\"Wouldn’tyoulikeasoul，NicholasSnyders？\"heasked。
\"Thinkofit，\"continuedthestrangepedlar，beforeNicholascouldrecoverpowerofspeech。\"Forfortyyearsyouhavedrunkthejoyofbeingmeanandcruel。Areyounottiredofthetaste，NicholasSnyders？Wouldn’tyoulikeachange？Thinkofit，NicholasSnyders——thejoyofbeingloved，ofhearingyourselfblessed，insteadofcursed！Wouldn’titbegoodfun，NicholasSnyders——justbywayofachange？Ifyoudon’tlikeit，youcanreturnandbeyourselfagain。\"
WhatNicholasSnyders，recallingallthingsafterwards，couldneverunderstandwaswhyhesatthere，listeninginpatiencetothestranger’stalk;for，atthetime，itseemedtohimthejestingofawanderingfool。Butsomethingaboutthestrangerhadimpressedhim。
\"Ihaveitwithme，\"continuedtheoddpedlar;\"andasforprice——\"
Thestrangermadeagestureindicatingdismissalofallsordiddetails。\"Ilookformyrewardinwatchingtheresultoftheexperiment。Iamsomethingofaphilosopher。Itakeaninterestinthesematters。See。\"Thestrangerdivedbetweenhislegsandproducedfromhispackasilverflaskofcunningworkmanshipandlaiditonthetable。
\"Itsflavourisnotunpleasant，\"explainedthestranger。\"Alittlebitter;butonedoesnotdrinkitbythegoblet:awineglassful，suchasonewouldofoldTokay，whilethemindofbothisfixedonthesamethought:’Maymysoulpassintohim，mayhispassintome！’Theoperationisquitesimple:thesecretlieswithinthedrug。\"Thestrangerpattedthequaintflaskasthoughithadbeensomelittledog。
\"Youwillsay:’WhowillexchangesoulswithNicholasSnyders？’\"Thestrangerappearedtohavecomepreparedwithananswertoallquestions。\"Myfriend，youarerich;youneednotfear。Itisthepossessionmenvaluetheleastofalltheyhave。Chooseyoursoulanddriveyourbargain。Ileavethattoyouwithonewordofcounselonly:youwillfindtheyoungreadierthantheold——theyoung，towhomtheworldpromisesallthingsforgold。Chooseyouafine，fair，fresh，youngsoul，NicholasSnyders;andchooseitquickly。Yourhairissomewhatgrey，myfriend。Taste，beforeyoudie，thejoyofliving。\"
Thestrangepedlarlaughedand，rising，closedhispack。NicholasSnydersneithermovednorspoke，untilwiththesoftclangingofthemassivedoorhissensesreturnedtohim。Then，seizingtheflaskthestrangerhadleftbehindhim，hesprangfromhischair，meaningtoflingitafterhimintothestreet。Buttheflashingofthefirelightonitsburnishedsurfacestayedhishand。
\"Afterall，thecaseisofvalue，\"Nicholaschuckled，andputtheflaskasideand，lightingthetwotallcandles，buriedhimselfagaininhisgreen—boundledger。YetstillfromtimetotimeNicholasSnyders’eyewouldwandertowherethesilverflaskremainedhalfhiddenamongdustypapers。Andlatertherecameagainaknockingatthedoor，andthistimeitreallywasyoungJanwhoentered。
Janheldouthisgreathandacrossthelittereddesk。
\"Wepartedinanger，NicholasSnyders。Itwasmyfault。Youwereintheright。Iaskyoutoforgiveme。Iwaspoor。Itwasselfishofmetowishthelittlemaidtosharewithmemypoverty。ButnowIamnolongerpoor。\"
\"Sitdown，\"respondedNicholasinkindlytone。\"Ihaveheardofit。
Sonowyouaremasterandtheownerofyourship——yourveryown。\"
\"Myveryownafteronemorevoyage，\"laughedJan。\"IhaveBurgomasterAllart’spromise。\"
\"Apromiseisnotaperformance，\"hintedNicholas。\"BurgomasterAllartisnotarichman;ahigherbidmighttempthim。Anothermightstepinbetweenyouandbecometheowner。\"
Janonlylaughed。\"Why，thatwouldbetheworkofanenemy，which，Godbepraised，IdonotthinkthatIpossess。\"
\"Luckylad！\"commentedNicholas;\"sofewofusarewithoutenemies。
Andyourparents，Jan，willtheylivewithyou？\"
\"Wewishedit，\"answeredJan，\"bothChristinaandI。Butthemotherisfeeble。Theoldmillhasgrownintoherlife。\"
\"Icanunderstand，\"agreedNicholas。\"Theoldvinetornfromtheoldwallwithers。Andyourfather，Jan;peoplewillgossip。Themillispaying？\"
Janshookhishead。\"Itneverwillagain;andthedebtshaunthim。
Butallthat，asItellhim，isathingofthepast。Hiscreditorshaveagreedtolooktomeandwait。\"
\"Allofthem？\"queriedNicholas。
\"AllofthemIcoulddiscover，\"laughedJan。
NicholasSnyderspushedbackhischairandlookedatJanwithasmileuponhiswrinkledface。\"AndsoyouandChristinahavearrangeditall？\"
\"Withyourconsent，sir，\"answeredJan。
\"Youwillwaitforthat？\"askedNicholas。
\"Weshouldliketohaveit，sir。\"Jansmiled，butthetoneofhisvoicefellagreeablyonNicholasSnyders’ear。NicholasSnyderslovedbestbeatingthedogthat，growledandshoweditsteeth。
\"Betternotwaitforthat，\"saidNicholasSnyders。\"Youmighthavetowaitlong。\"
Janrose，anangryflushuponhisface。\"Sonothingchangesyou，NicholasSnyders。Haveityourownway，then。\"
\"Youwillmarryherinspiteofme？\"
\"Inspiteofyouandofyourfriendsthefiends，andofyourmastertheDevil！\"flungoutJan。ForJanhadasoulthatwasgenerousandbraveandtenderandexcessivelyshort—tempered。Eventhebestofsoulshavetheirfailings。
\"Iamsorry，\"saidoldNicholas。
\"Iamgladtohearit，\"answeredJan。
\"Iamsorryforyourmother，\"explainedNicholas。\"Thepoordame，I
fear，willbehomelessinheroldage。Themortgageshallbeforeclosed，Jan，onyourwedding—day。Iamsorryforyourfather，Jan。Hiscreditors，Jan——youhaveoverlookedjustone。Iamsorryforhim，Jan。Prisonhasalwaysbeenhisdread。Iamsorryevenforyou，myyoungfriend。Youwillhavetobeginlifeoveragain。
BurgomasterAllartisinthehollowofmyhand。Ihavebuttosaytheword，yourshipismine。Iwishyoujoyofyourbride，myyoungfriend。Youmustloveherverydearly——youwillbepayingahighpriceforher。\"
ItwasNicholasSnyders’grinthatmaddenedJan。Hesoughtforsomethingthat，thrownstraightatthewickedmouth，shouldsilenceit，andbychancehishandlightedonthepedlar’ssilverflask。InthesameinstanceNicholasSnyders’handhadcloseduponitalso。Thegrinhaddiedaway。
\"Sitdown，\"commandedNicholasSnyders。\"Letustalkfurther。\"Andtherewasthatinhisvoicethatcompelledtheyoungerman’sobedience。
\"Youwonder，Jan，whyIseekalwaysangerandhatred。Iwonderattimesmyself。Whydogenerousthoughtsnevercometome，astoothermen！Listen，Jan;Iaminawhimsicalmood。Suchthingscannotbe，butitisawhimofminetothinkitmighthavebeen。Sellmeyoursoul，Jan，sellmeyoursoul，thatI，too，maytastethisloveandgladnessthatIhearabout。Foralittlewhile，Jan，onlyforalittlewhile，andIwillgiveyouallyoudesire。\"
Theoldmanseizedhispenandwrote。
\"See，Jan，theshipisyoursbeyondmishap;themillgoesfree;yourfathermayholduphisheadagain。AndallIask，Jan，isthatyoudrinktome，willingthewhilethatyoursoulmaygofromyouandbecomethesoulofoldNicholasSnyders——foralittlewhile，Jan，onlyforalittlewhile。\"
Withfeverishhandstheoldmanhaddrawnthestopperfromthepedlar’sflagon，hadpouredthewineintotwinglasses。Jan’sinclinationwastolaugh，buttheoldman’seagernesswasalmostfrenzy。Surelyhewasmad;butthatwouldnotmakelessbindingthepaperhehadsigned。Atruemandoesnotjestwithhissoul，butthefaceofChristinawasshiningdownonJanfromoutthegloom。
\"Youwillmeanit？\"whisperedNicholasSnyders。
\"MaymysoulpassfrommeandenterintoNicholasSnyders！\"answeredJan，replacinghisemptyglassuponthetable。Andthetwostoodlookingforamomentintooneanother’seyes。
Andthehighcandlesonthelittereddeskflickeredandwentout，asthoughabreathhadblownthem，firstoneandthentheother。
\"Imustbegettinghome，\"camethevoiceofJanfromthedarkness。
\"Whydidyoublowoutthecandles？\"
\"Wecanlightthemagainfromthefire，\"answeredNicholas。HedidnotaddthathehadmeanttoaskthatsamequestionofJan。Hethrustthemamongtheglowinglogs，firstoneandthentheother;andtheshadowscreptbackintotheircorners。
\"YouwillnotstopandseeChristina？\"askedNicholas。
\"Notto—night，\"answeredJan。
\"ThepaperthatIsigned，\"Nicholasremindedhim——\"youhaveit？\"
\"Ihadforgottenit，\"Jananswered。
Theoldmantookitfromthedeskandhandedittohim。Janthrustitintohispocketandwentout。Nicholasboltedthedoorbehindhimandreturnedtohisdesk;satlongthere，hiselbowrestingontheopenledger。
Nicholaspushedtheledgerasideandlaughed。\"Whatfoolery！Asifsuchthingscouldbe！Thefellowmusthavebewitchedme。\"
Nicholascrossedtothefireandwarmedhishandsbeforetheblaze。
\"Still，Iamgladheisgoingtomarrythelittlelass。Agoodlad，agoodlad。\"
Nicholasmusthavefallenasleepbeforethefire。Whenheopenedhiseyes，itwastomeetthegreydawn。Hefeltcold，stiff，hungry，anddecidedlycross。WhyhadnotChristinawokehimupandgivenhimhissupper。Didshethinkhehadintendedtopassthenightonawoodenchair？Thegirlwasanidiot。Hewouldgoupstairsandtellherthroughthedoorjustwhathethoughtofher。
Hiswayupstairsledthroughthekitchen。Tohisastonishment，theresatChristina，asleepbeforetheburnt—outgrate。
\"Uponmyword，\"mutteredNicholastohimself，\"peopleinthishousedon’tseemtoknowwhatbedsarefor！\"
ButitwasnotChristina，soNicholastoldhimself。Christinahadthelookofafrightenedrabbit:ithadalwaysirritatedhim。Thisgirl，eveninhersleep，woreanimpertinentexpression——adelightfullyimpertinentexpression。Besides，thisgirlwaspretty——marvellouslypretty。Indeed，soprettyagirlNicholashadneverseeninallhislifebefore。Whyhadthegirls，whenNicholaswasyoung，beensoentirelydifferent！AsuddenbitternessseizedNicholas:itwasasthoughhehadjustlearntthatlongago，withoutknowingit，hehadbeenrobbed。
Thechildmustbecold。Nicholasfetchedhisfur—linedcloakandwrappeditabouther。
Therewassomethingelseheoughttodo。Theideacametohimwhiledrawingthecloakaroundhershoulders，verygently，nottodisturbher——somethinghewantedtodo，ifonlyhecouldthinkwhatitwas。
Thegirl’slipswereparted。Sheappearedtobespeakingtohim，askinghimtodothisthing——ortellinghimnottodoit。Nicholascouldnotbesurewhich。Halfadozentimesheturnedaway，andhalfadozentimesstolebacktowhereshesatsleepingwiththatdelightfullyimpertinentexpressiononherface，herlipsparted。Butwhatshewanted，orwhatitwashewanted，Nicholascouldnotthink。
PerhapsChristinawouldknow。PerhapsChristinawouldknowwhoshewasandhowshegotthere。Nicholasclimbedthestairs，swearingatthemforcreaking。
Christina’sdoorwasopen。Noonewasintheroom;thebedhadnotbeensleptupon。Nicholasdescendedthecreakingstairs。
Thegirlwasstillasleep。CoulditbeChristinaherself？Nicholasexaminedthedeliciousfeaturesonebyone。Neverbefore，sofarashecouldrecollect，hadheseenthegirl;yetaroundherneck——Nicholashadnotnoticeditbefore——layChristina’slocket，risingandfallingasshebreathed。Nicholasknewitwell;theonethingbelongingtohermotherChristinahadinsistedonkeeping。Theonethingaboutwhichshehadeverdefiedhim。Shewouldneverhavepartedwiththatlocket。ItmustbeChristinaherself。Butwhathadhappenedtoher？Ortohimself。Remembrancerushedinuponhim。Theoddpedlar！ThescenewithJan！Butsurelyallthathadbeenadream？Yetthereuponthelittereddeskstillstoodthepedlar’ssilverflask，togetherwiththetwinstainedglasses。
Nicholastriedtothink，buthisbrainwasinawhirl。Arayofsunshinestreamingthroughthewindowfellacrossthedustyroom。
Nicholashadneverseenthesun，thathecouldrecollect。